If you grew up watching PBS, the name Mr. Hooper probably conjures up a very specific image. You likely see a man with thick-rimmed glasses, a bow tie, and a slightly grumbly but incredibly warm disposition. He was the guy who made the birdseed milkshakes for Big Bird. He was the anchor of the neighborhood. But honestly, for as much as he felt like a permanent fixture of our childhoods, many people don't actually know the man behind the counter. Will Lee was the actor who played Mr. Hooper on Sesame Street, and his story is far more complex than just serving juice boxes to puppets.
Will Lee didn't just stumble into the role. He was a veteran of the stage and screen who had been through the ringer of American history before he ever stepped onto a colorful set in Manhattan. When Sesame Street premiered in 1969, Lee brought a sense of grounded, old-school New York reality to a show that was otherwise filled with monsters and oversized birds. He wasn't playing a "character" in the traditional, cartoonish sense. He was playing a neighbor.
The Man Who Became Harold Hooper
Will Lee was born in Brooklyn in 1908. That’s a long time ago. He came up through the Great Depression, which probably explains that "no-nonsense" energy he gave Mr. Hooper. Before he was the most famous shopkeeper in the world, he was a serious actor involved with the Group Theatre in the 1930s. This wasn't some lighthearted hobby. We’re talking about a collective that included legends like Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler. These people were pioneers of "The Method." They cared about truth in acting.
You can see that truth in every episode he filmed.
He had this way of looking at Big Bird—who, let’s be real, is an 8-foot-tall yellow canary—with total sincerity. He never winked at the camera. He never acted like he was in a kids' show. To Will Lee, Big Bird was a real kid who needed guidance. That’s why it worked.
But here’s something most people totally miss: Will Lee was actually blacklisted during the McCarthy era. In the 1950s, his career almost ended because of his political affiliations and his work with leftist theater groups. For years, he couldn't get significant work in film or television. Think about that for a second. The man who would eventually become the heartbeat of "the most wholesome show on TV" was once considered a threat to American security by the government. It’s wild. By the time he landed the role of Harold Hooper, he had a lifetime of struggle and resilience behind him. That weathered, patient kindness wasn't an act. It was earned.
Why the Character Mattered So Much
Usually, adults on kids' shows are either overly bubbly or kind of invisible. Mr. Hooper was neither. He was frequently annoyed. He was precise. He got frustrated when Big Bird couldn't get his name right (constantly calling him "Mr. Looper").
But he was always there.
In the early seasons of Sesame Street, the producers wanted to show kids what a functioning community looked like. They needed an elder. Will Lee filled that gap perfectly. He represented the bridge between the old world and the new generation. He was the immigrant success story, the small business owner who knew everyone’s name.
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His chemistry with Caroll Spinney, the man inside the Big Bird suit, was legendary. They had this beautiful, odd-couple dynamic. Big Bird was the eternal child, and Mr. Hooper was the patient grandfather who occasionally had to tell him to pipe down. It provided a sense of safety. If Mr. Hooper was in his store, everything was going to be okay.
The 1982 Turning Point
Everything changed on December 7, 1982. Will Lee passed away from a heart attack at the age of 74.
At the time, the show’s producers, including Joan Ganz Cooney and the writers at Children’s Television Workshop, faced a massive dilemma. In the past, when an actor on a kids' show died, the character was usually just recast or written out with a vague explanation like "he moved away." They could have easily hired another older actor with glasses and a bow tie and hoped the toddlers wouldn't notice.
They didn't do that.
They decided to do something that had never been done on national television before. They decided to teach children about death.
The Episode That Changed Television History
If you want to understand who played Mr. Hooper on Sesame Street, you have to look at the episode that aired on Thanksgiving Day in 1983. It is officially titled "Episode 1839," but everyone just calls it "The Death of Mr. Hooper."
The writers, led by Norman Stiles, worked with child psychologists for months. They were terrified of traumatizing their audience. They eventually realized that the most "human" way to handle Will Lee's death was to be honest.
In the episode, Big Bird comes back from a run and starts handing out drawings he made for all the adults. He gets to the last one and says he’s looking for Mr. Hooper so he can give it to him. The adults—Maria, Bob, Gordon, Susan, and David—have to break the news.
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"Big Bird, Mr. Hooper isn't coming back," says Gordon (played by Hal Miller at the time).
Big Bird’s response is heartbreaking. "Why not?"
"Big Bird, when people die, they don't come back."
There were no metaphors about "sleeping" or "going to a better place." The show used the word dead. They explained that he wouldn't be there to make birdseed milkshakes anymore, but that his memory would remain. The tears you see on the actors' faces in that scene? Those weren't scripted. They were mourning their friend, Will Lee. They were literally saying goodbye to a man they had worked with for thirteen years.
The Legacy of the Character
Will Lee’s performance was so definitive that the show never replaced him. To this day, the store is still called "Hooper’s Store." It has passed through several hands—David, Mr. Handford, and eventually Alan—but the name stays. It’s a permanent tribute to a man who helped build the show’s foundation.
When we talk about "educational television," we usually think about the ABCs and 123s. But Will Lee’s contribution was teaching emotional intelligence. He showed kids that you can be a bit of a curmudgeon and still be a deeply loving person. He showed that adults can be frustrated and still be safe.
If you go back and watch old clips now, Lee's timing is impeccable. He had the dry wit of a vaudevillian. He'd do these little double-takes that were just pure gold. He treated the Muppets as his equals. That’s probably the biggest secret to his success. If the actor believes the puppet is real, the kid at home believes it too.
Real Facts About Will Lee You Might Not Know
- He was a teacher. During the years he was blacklisted, Lee taught acting at the American Theatre Wing. He was known as a tough but brilliant mentor.
- He was a singer. He appeared in various musical theater productions before Sesame Street, which is why he was so comfortable during the show's many musical numbers.
- He was tiny. Will Lee was a small man in stature, which made his "big" presence even more impressive. Standing next to Big Bird, he looked even smaller, creating a visual dynamic that felt very "David and Goliath," but with friendship.
- He filmed until the end. Lee’s final appearances on the show aired posthumously. He worked almost up until his death, dedicated to the neighborhood he helped create.
Many people confuse him with other actors of that era, or they assume the character was just a generic "old man" role. But you can't swap out Will Lee. His specific blend of New York grit and grandfatherly warmth was a one-time-only deal. He wasn't just "the guy in the store." He was a classically trained artist who chose to spend the final chapter of his life talking to a bird and helping kids feel a little less alone in the world.
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How to Share the Story of Mr. Hooper Today
If you’re a parent or a teacher looking to use this history as a teaching moment, here’s how to handle it. You don't have to make it a dark conversation. Will Lee’s legacy is actually a very hopeful one.
Watch the clips together.
Don't just talk about it. Show the "Farewell to Mr. Hooper" scene. It's available on YouTube through the official Sesame Street channel. It remains the gold standard for how to talk to children about loss without being scary.
Discuss the concept of "The Neighborhood."
Talk about who the "Mr. Hoopers" are in your own life. Is there a librarian? A shopkeeper? A neighbor? Will Lee’s character was based on the idea that everyone in a community has value.
Acknowledge the actor.
It’s important to tell kids that Mr. Hooper was played by a man named Will Lee who loved the show very much. This helps children differentiate between the character and the real person, which is a key developmental step in media literacy.
Keep the memory alive.
Whenever you see "Hooper’s Store" in modern episodes, point it out. It’s a great way to talk about how people leave a "mark" on the world even after they’re gone. The sign is still there. The store is still open.
Will Lee gave thirteen years of his life to a fictional street corner, and in doing so, he became a real part of millions of families. He was more than an actor. He was the grandfather of public television. He taught us how to count, how to share, and eventually, how to say goodbye. That’s a legacy that most actors can only dream of.
If you're feeling nostalgic, the best way to honor his memory is to simply be a "Mr. Hooper" to someone else today. Be a little bit patient, a little bit kind, and maybe a little bit no-nonsense when it counts.
Next Steps for the Nostalgic Fan:
- Visit the Museum of the Moving Image in New York City; they often have Jim Henson exhibits that feature original props and photos from the Hooper era.
- Read "Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street" by Michael Davis. It gives an incredible, deep-dive look into Will Lee’s life and the behind-the-scenes drama of the blacklisting years.
- Check out the documentary "Street Gang" (available on various streaming platforms) to see rare footage of Will Lee on set, interacting with the cast and crew.